Public Statements

Issue Position: Curb The Excesses of "Independent" Agencies

Issue Position

National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)President Obama refused to even comment on the NLRB's attempt to block Boeing from relocating andcreating jobs in South Carolina, a policy that will encourage American manufacturers to move to Chinaand other low-cost nations, rather than to right-to-work states here in America. The NLRB's policy is areckless assault upon our nation's free-market system. Gov. Huntsman will immediately instruct theNLRB to stop pursuing this politically-motivated attack on free enterprise, and if they fail to do so, hewill replace them.

Commodities Future Trading Commission (CFTC)In exercising its vast new Dodd-Frank authority over derivatives markets, the CFTC refuses to seriouslyexamine whether the costs of the regulations outweigh their benefits. For example, the CFTC proposesto impose strict regulations on non-financial companies that use derivatives as part of their ordinarybusiness operations. Those regulations would have a massive impact on agriculture, energy, and creditmarkets -- sidelining trillions of dollars of capital.

The CFTC's regulations also contradict Congress' clear instruction that "end users" of derivatives not be&#8233;subject to such heavy regulation. As President, Gov. Huntsman will demand the CFTC undertakeserious cost-benefit analysis before implementing any regulations.&#8233;Privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie MacWe must wind down so-called Government Sponsored Enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Today,the White House continues to use these institutions to perpetuate a failed intervention in the housingmarket, which costs taxpayers billions of dollars and prevents a natural stabilization. As President, Gov.Huntsman will scale back homeownership subsidies and privatize Fannie and Freddie.

Mandate Cost-Benefit Fundamentals at AgenciesThe White House should demand that all government agencies, including the "independent" ones,adhere to a fundamental framework of applying cost-benefit analysis prior to imposing potentiallyharmful and costly regulations. Gov. Huntsman will require agency administrators to follow this policy.